McCain: Georgia conflict is the ‘first serious crisis internationally since the end of the Cold War.’  —  Speaking at the Aspen Institute in Colorado yesterday, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said that recent Russian aggression in Georgia is the “first...serious crisis internationally since the end of the Cold War.”

After Russia's invasion of Georgia, what now for the West?  —  At least for now, the smoke seems to be clearing from the Georgian battlefield.  But the extent of the wreckage reaches far beyond that small country.  —  Russia's invasion across an internationally recognised border …

Rick Warren Plans to Bring up Obama, McCain's Personal Life  —  It's going to get a little personal Saturday night at Saddleback Church in California.  John McCain and Barack Obama will spend an hour each talking to Pastor Rick Warren at his Compassion Forum.

FIRST THOUGHTS: LOSING MY RELIGION?  —  From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro  —  *** Losing my religion?  On Saturday night, McCain and Obama appear at their first forum together when they speak at Rick Warren's Saddleback Church in California.

Barack Obama blinks in Hillary face-off  —  Russia rolls over Georgia, Hillary Clinton does the same to Barack Obama.  Now we know who's boss.  —  Obama blinked and stands guilty of appeasing Clinton by agreeing to a roll call vote for her nomination.  That he might not have had much choice …

Is 5'7" John McCain Dressing For Defeat?  (PICTURES)  —  There has not been a President in The White House who has stood shorter than 5'8" since President McKinley took office in 1897.  At 5'7" John McCain is up against more than just 6'3" Barrack Obama, he's up against an American population …

Exclusive: Death Threats Against Obama and ‘Traitorous Liberals’ Posted On Rightwing O'Reilly Contributor's Website  —  On Wednesday night, Fox “News'” Bill O'Reilly continued his dishonest and deceptive attacks on websites, such as Huffington Post and Daily Kos, which he misleadingly describes as …

McCain Meets With T. Boone Pickens, Dodges Question About Anti-Obama Book  —  From CBS News' Ryan Corsaro:  —  (ASPEN, COLO.) - T. Boone Pickens was waiting for John McCain in a small conference room at the Aspen Meadows Resort, where the two, according to Pickens, were going to be “talking about the Pickens plan.”

Another flub?  Bush vowed Navy aid to Georgia too soon  —  WASHINGTON — President Bush Wednesday promised that U.S. naval forces would deliver humanitarian aid to war-torn Georgia before his administration had received approval from Turkey, which controls naval access to the Black Sea …

North Texas school district will let teachers carry guns  —  Comments Recommend  —  HARROLD, Texas — A tiny Texas school district may be the first in the nation to allow teachers and staff to pack guns for protection when classes begin later this month, a newspaper reported.

John McCain and the POW church riot  —  HARRISBURG, Pa. — They called it the church riot.  —  Sen. John McCain, who is known for his reticence and even discomfort invoking faith on the campaign trail, was once dubbed a “Hell's Angel” for rioting against his captors in Vietnam in order to hold Sunday church services.

Iraq May Be Stable, But the War Was a Mistake  —  Sometime in May 2003, shortly after U.S. forces had taken Baghdad and President Bush landed on an aircraft carrier under the banner “Mission Accomplished,” an old friend remarked that he thought the war was going pretty well so far.

Ungrateful Illegals  —  Here in New York City, as is well known, our officials never prosecute illegal aliens.  Nor do they prosecute — or even discourage — people running veritable businesses selling stuff on the sidewalks.  Much of that stuff, of course, is counterfeit designer items from China …

Sports owners fund McCain, shun Obama  —  Sports team owners may not be John McCain's answer to the Hollywood elite, but they're overwhelmingly supporting his presidential campaign over Barack Obama's.  —  Through the end of June, team owners in the four major sports and their families …

The End of Placeness  —  The end of placeness is one of the features of the campaign.  I do not like it.  —  Pretend you are not a political sophisticate and regular watcher of the presidential race as it unfolds on all media platforms.  Pretend, that is, that you are normal.  —  OK, quick, close your eyes.